Bariatric Equipment Buyer's Guide: Lifts, Beds, Wheelchairs and Bathroom Aids

Bariatric is the word the equipment industry uses for heavy-duty products made for larger users. A bariatric version of a wheelchair, bed, lift or commode usually has a stronger frame, a wider seat or deck and a higher weight rating than the standard model. This guide pulls the main categories in our bariatric collection together and lists the numbers to compare. It describes equipment only; questions about care belong with the user's care team.

How much weight capacity do you need?

Start with the rated capacity the maker publishes, and choose a product rated comfortably above the user's weight. Several makers state that their figure assumes the weight is spread evenly across the seat, so an item used at the very top of its range leaves little margin.

Check every part, not just the main item. A floor lift and its sling each carry a rating, as do a bed frame and its mattress, and the lower figure is the one that limits the setup.

Which bariatric patient lift should you choose?

Bariatric floor lifts have wider bases, longer booms and spreader bars that hold the sling straps farther apart. The Hoyer Calibre is the highest-rated lift we carry at 850 lb. Joerns gives it a wrap-around handle with room for more than one caregiver, a built-in scale and powered leg adjustment. The Arjo Tenor is rated for 704 lb on an aluminum frame that weighs about 152 lb, with a curved arm and a four-point bariatric spreader bar. Drive and Lumex each offer a 600 lb electric floor lift.

For people who can bear some weight, the Lumex Bariatric Easy Lift STS is a 600 lb stand lift; see our sit-to-stand lift guide. Ceiling lifts are another option where floor space is tight; most portable models we list are rated for 440 lb, as our ceiling lifts vs. floor lifts guide explains. Pair any lift with a sling its maker approves. Arjo's Bariatric Basic Sling, for example, is rated for 1,000 lb and listed for the Tenor, so with that lift the 704 lb lift rating is the limit.

What should you know about bariatric beds and mattresses?

Bariatric hospital beds have wider decks, often 39 or 48 in instead of the usual 36 in, and the mattress has to match the deck. The Hill-Rom 1039/1048 bed we list comes in 39 and 48 in widths at 84 in long. Mattress choices include non-powered foam surfaces such as the Hill-Rom NP50 and powered air systems such as the Drive Med-Aire Plus bariatric mattress, which combines alternating pressure with low air loss. Check the mattress size, the bed's rated capacity and the frame width against your doorway. Our hospital bed guide explains the frame types.

How do bariatric wheelchairs and transport chairs differ?

The main question is who moves the chair. A self-propelled wheelchair has large rear wheels the rider can push; the Karman KM-BT10 folds, is rated for 550 lb and comes with seat widths from 22 to 30 in. A transport chair has small wheels and is pushed by a companion. Drive's 22 in bariatric aluminum transport chair has a 22 by 18 in seat, a 450 lb rating, 12 in flat-free rear wheels and an aluminum frame of about 33 lb that folds to 12 in wide. For powered mobility, the Pride Jazzy 614 HD power chair and the Free Rider FR510-F scooter are each rated for 450 lb. Our wheelchair guide covers seat sizing in more detail.

Which walkers and rollators carry more weight?

Heavy-duty walkers and rollators have reinforced frames and wider seats. The Drive heavy-duty bariatric walker is rated for 600 lb and weighs 9 lb. Wenzelite's 500 lb bariatric roller brakes when the user presses down on the handle. The Karman extra-wide rollator has a 23 in seat and a 400 lb rating, and Medline offers a 400 lb bariatric rollator. Compare the seat width, handle height and folded size.

What bathroom equipment comes in bariatric sizes?

Drive's bariatric drop-arm commode carries a 1,000 lb rating, has 26 in between the legs and an arm that lowers for sideways transfers. Graham-Field's 3-in-1 steel drop-arm commode is rated for 600 lb. For the tub, Medline's bariatric transfer bench is rated for 550 lb and Graham-Field's bariatric bath seat for 600 lb. Measure the tub depth, the toilet area and the floor space before ordering; our bathroom aids guide covers the product types.

How do the main bariatric products compare?

What should you check before you buy?

• The user's weight compared with the rated capacity of every part.
• Seat or deck width, plus the overall width.
• Doorways, hallways, stairs and turning space on the route.
• The matching mattress, sling or accessory for the main item.
• Whether the item can be returned; read our returns policy.

Talk to us

Have a question about capacity or size? Call 1-877-861-8000, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Pacific, or email contactus@medsupplynow.com. US orders of $50 or more ship free; ask us about delivery for large items. Hospital beds and patient, pool, bath and vehicle lifts are not returnable. Other items can be returned within 30 days, less a 20% restocking fee. Browse our bariatric collection.

Related guides

You may also find these useful: sit-to-stand lifts, ceiling lifts vs. floor lifts and the wheelchair guide. For every topic we cover, see the buyer's guide hub.

Frequently asked questions